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Ezera Akomawo e Yerusaalemi

(A)Awo oluvannyuma lw’ebyo, mu biro eby’obufuzi bwa Alutagizerugizi kabaka w’e Buperusi, Ezera mutabani wa Seraya, muzzukulu wa Azaliya, muzzukulu wa Kirukiya, (B)muzzukulu wa Sallumu, muzzukulu wa Zadooki, muzzukulu wa Akitubu, muzzukulu wa Amaliya, muzzukulu wa Azaliya, muzzukulu wa Merayoosi, muzzukulu wa Zerakiya, muzzukulu wa Uzzi, muzzukulu wa Bukki, muzzukulu wa Abisuwa, muzzukulu wa Finekaasi, muzzukulu wa Eriyazaali, muzzukulu wa Alooni kabona asinga obukulu, (C)n’ava e Babulooni. Yali munnyonnyozi w’amateeka mukugu mu mateeka, Mukama Katonda wa Isirayiri ge yawa Musa. Kabaka n’amuwa buli kintu kye yasaba kubanga omukono gwa Mukama Katonda we gwali wamu naye. (D)Abamu ku bantu ba Isirayiri, omwo nga mwe muli bakabona, n’Abaleevi, n’abayimbi, n’abaakuumanga wankaaki, n’abaaweerezanga mu yeekaalu, ne bagenda wamu naye e Yerusaalemi mu mwaka ogw’omusanvu ogw’obufuzi bwa kabaka Alutagizerugizi.

N’atuuka mu Yerusaalemi mu mwezi ogwokutaano ogw’omwaka ogw’omusanvu ogw’obufuzi bwa kabaka oyo. (E)Yasitula okuva e Babulooni ku lunaku olw’olubereberye olw’omwezi ogw’olubereberye, n’atuuka e Yerusaalemi ku lunaku olw’olubereberye olw’omwezi ogwokutaano, kubanga omukono gwa Katonda we omulungi gwali wamu naye. 10 (F)Ezera yali amaliridde mu mutima gwe okusoma n’okukuuma Etteeka lya Mukama, era n’okuyigirizanga amateeka n’ebiragiro byalyo mu Isirayiri.

Ebbaluwa Kabaka Alutagizerugizi gye yawandiikira Ezera

11 Eno ye kopi ey’ebbaluwa kabaka Alutagizerugizi gye yawa Ezera kabona era omusomesa, omusajja eyali omukugu mu nsonga ez’amateeka n’ebiragiro bya Mukama eri Isirayiri.

12 (G)Alutagizerugizi, kabaka wa bakabaka,

Eri Ezera kabona era omunnyonnyozi w’amateeka ga Katonda w’eggulu:

Nkulamusizza.

13 Nteeka etteeka nga buli muntu ow’omu ggwanga lya Isirayiri, omwo nga mwe muli bakabona n’Abaleevi, awulira okugenda e Yerusaalemi naawe, ayinza okugenda. 14 (H)Otumiddwa kabaka n’abakungu be omusanvu ab’oku ntikko okugenda okunoonyereza ku bikwata ku Yuda ne Yerusaalemi nga mugoberera etteeka lya Katonda wammwe, lye mumanyi obulungi. 15 (I)Bwe muba nga mugenda mutwale effeeza ne zaabu kabaka n’abakungu be bye bawaddeyo ku bwabwe eri Katonda wa Isirayiri, atuula mu Yerusaalemi, 16 (J)awamu n’effeeza ne zaabu yonna gye muliggya mu ssaza lya Babulooni, n’ebiweebwayo eby’obuwa abantu ne bakabona bye baliwaayo ku lwa yeekaalu ya Katonda waabwe mu Yerusaalemi. 17 (K)Ensimbi ezo mulizikozesa okugula ente ennume, n’endiga ennume, n’abaana b’endiga, n’ebiweebwayo byako eby’obutta, n’ebiweebwayo byako ebyokunywa era munaabiweerangayo ku kyoto eky’omu yeekaalu ya Katonda wammwe mu Yerusaalemi.

18 Ggwe ne baganda bo Abayudaaya, kye mulisiima okukolamu effeeza ne zaabu erifikkawo kiriva gye muli ng’okusiima kwa Katonda wammwe bwe kuli. 19 (L)Ebintu byonna ebibaweereddwa okukozesa mu yeekaalu ya Katonda wammwe mubiwangayo olw’okusinza Katonda wa Yerusaalemi. 20 (M)N’ekintu ekirala kyonna kye muliba mwetaaze okukozesa mu yeekaalu ya Katonda wammwe, kinaggyibwanga mu ggwanika lya kabaka.

21 Kaakano, nze kabaka Alutagizerugizi nteeka etteeka nga ndagira abawanika bonna abali mu ssaza eriri emitala w’omugga Fulaati okuwanga Ezera kabona era omunnyonnyozi w’amateeka ga Katonda w’eggulu, by’anaabasabanga 22 n’okutuusa ku ttani ssatu n’ekitundu eza ffeeza, oba kilo enkumi bbiri mu bibiri ez’eŋŋaano, oba lita enkumi bbiri mu bibiri ez’envinnyo, oba lita enkumi bbiri mu bibiri ez’amafuta, oba n’omunnyo gwe baliba baagala gwonna. 23 (N)Ekintu kyonna ekyalagirwa Katonda w’eggulu, kiribaweebwa mu bungi, ku lwa yeekaalu ya Katonda w’eggulu. Kale kiki ekirimuleetera okusunguwalira kabaka ne batabani be? 24 (O)Ate era mutegeere nga temusaana kuwooza musolo, oba empooza ey’engeri yonna ku kabona yenna newaakubadde Abaleevi newaakubadde abayimbi newaakubadde abakuumi ab’oku nzigi newaakubadde abaweereza ab’omu yeekaalu newaakubadde abaddu abalala ab’omu nnyumba ya Katonda eyo.

25 (P)“Naawe, ggwe Ezera, ng’okozesa amagezi Katonda ge yakuwa, londa abaami n’abalamuzi, abanaalamulanga abantu bonna ab’omu ssaza eriri emitala w’omugga Fulaati, abamanyi amateeka ga Katonda wo, era oyigirize n’abo abatagamanyi. 26 (Q)Omuntu yenna ataligondera tteeka lya Katonda wo, n’etteeka lya Kabaka aliweebwa ekibonerezo kya kuttibwa, oba okugobebwa mu bantu, oba okuggyibwako ebibye, oba okusibibwa mu kkomera.”

27 (R)Mukama Katonda w’abajjajjaffe atenderezebwe ayolesezza kabaka okuwa ennyumba ya Mukama mu Yerusaalemi ekitiibwa, 28 (S)era ansobozesezza okulaba omukisa mu maaso ga kabaka ne mu maaso g’abawi b’amagezi be ab’oku ntikko, n’abakungu ba kabaka bonna, n’olw’omukono gwa Mukama Katonda wange ogubadde awamu nange, nsobole okukuŋŋaanya abakulembeze ba Isirayiri okugenda nange.

The Arrival of Ezra

Now after these things had happened, during the reign of King Artaxerxes[a] of Persia, Ezra came up from Babylon.[b] Ezra was the son of Seraiah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Hilkiah, who was the son of Shallum, who was the son of Zadok, who was the son of Ahitub, who was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Meraioth, who was the son of Zerahiah, who was the son of Uzzi, who was the son of Bukki, who was the son of Abishua, who was the son of Phinehas, who was the son of Eleazar, who was the son of Aaron the chief priest. This Ezra is the one who came up from Babylon. He was a scribe who was skilled in the law of Moses which the Lord God of Israel had given. The king supplied him with everything he requested, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. In the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, Ezra brought up[c] to Jerusalem some of the Israelites and some of the priests, the Levites, the attendants, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants. He entered Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. On the first day of the first month he had determined to make[d] the ascent from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he arrived at Jerusalem,[e] for the good hand of his God was on him. 10 Now Ezra had dedicated himself[f] to the study of the law of the Lord, to its observance, and to teaching[g] its statutes and judgments in Israel.

Artaxerxes Gives Official Endorsement to Ezra’s Mission

11 What follows[h] is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priestly scribe.[i] Ezra was[j] a scribe in matters pertaining to the commandments of the Lord and his statutes over Israel:

12 [k] “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven:[l] 13 I have now issued a decree[m] that anyone in my kingdom from the people of Israel—even the priests and Levites—who wishes to do so may go up with you to Jerusalem. 14 You are authorized[n] by the king and his seven advisers to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your possession,[o] 15 and to bring silver and gold which the king and his advisers have freely contributed to the God of Israel, who resides in Jerusalem, 16 along with all the silver and gold that you may collect[p] throughout all the province of Babylon and the contributions of the people and the priests for the temple of their God which is in Jerusalem. 17 With this money you should be sure to purchase bulls, rams, and lambs, along with the appropriate[q] meal offerings and libations. You should bring them to the altar of the temple of your God which is in Jerusalem. 18 You may do whatever seems appropriate to you and your colleagues[r] with the rest of the silver and the gold, in keeping with the will of your God. 19 Deliver to[s] the God of Jerusalem the vessels that are given to you for the service of the temple of your God. 20 The rest of the needs for the temple of your God that you may have to supply,[t] you may do so from the royal treasury.

21 “I, King Artaxerxes, hereby issue orders to all the treasurers of[u] Trans-Euphrates, that you precisely execute all that Ezra the priestly scribe of the law of the God of heaven may request of you— 22 up to 100 talents of silver, 100 cors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of olive oil,[v] and unlimited[w] salt. 23 Everything that the God of heaven has required should be precisely done for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should there be wrath[x] against the empire of the king and his sons? 24 Furthermore, be aware of the fact[y] that you have no authority to impose tax, tribute, or toll on any of the priests, the Levites, the musicians, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or the attendants at the temple of this God.

25 “Now you, Ezra, in keeping with the wisdom of your God which you possess,[z] appoint judges[aa] and court officials who can arbitrate cases on behalf of all the people who are in Trans-Euphrates who know the laws of your God. Those who do not know this law should be taught. 26 Everyone who does not observe both the law of your God and the law of the king will be completely[ab] liable to the appropriate penalty, whether it is death or banishment or confiscation of property or detainment in prison.”

27 [ac] Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who so moved in the heart of the king to so honor the temple of the Lord which is in Jerusalem! 28 He has also conferred his favor on me before the king, his advisers, and all the influential leaders of the king. I gained strength as the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 7:1 sn If the Artaxerxes of Ezra 7:1 is Artaxerxes I Longimanus (ca. 464-423 b.c.), Ezra must have arrived in Jerusalem ca. 458 b.c., since Ezra 7:7-8 connects the time of his arrival to the seventh year of the king. The arrival of Nehemiah is then linked to the twentieth year of the king (Neh 1:1), or ca. 445 b.c. Some scholars, however, have suggested that Ezra 7:7 should be read as “the thirty-seventh year” rather than “the seventh year.” This would have Ezra coming to Jerusalem after, rather than before, the arrival of Nehemiah. Others have taken the seventh year of Ezra 7:7-8 to refer not to Artaxerxes I but to Artaxerxes II, who ruled ca. 404-358 b.c. In this understanding Ezra would have returned to Jerusalem ca. 398 b.c., a good many years after the return of Nehemiah. Neither of these views is certain, however, and it seems better to retain the traditional understanding of the chronological sequence of returns by Ezra and Nehemiah. With this understanding there is a gap of about fifty-eight years between chapter six, which describes the dedication of the temple in 516 b.c., and chapter seven, which opens with Ezra’s coming to Jerusalem in 458 b.c.
  2. Ezra 7:1 tn The words “came up from Babylon” do not appear in the Hebrew text until v. 6. They have been supplied here for the sake of clarity.
  3. Ezra 7:7 tc The translation reads the Hiphil singular וַיַּעֲל (vayyaʿal, “he [Ezra] brought up”) rather than the Qal plural וַיַּעַלוּ (vayyaʿalu, “they came up”) of the MT.tn Heb “he brought”; the referent (Ezra) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  4. Ezra 7:9 tc The translation reads יִסַּד (yissad, “he appointed” [= determined]) rather than the reading יְסֻד (yesud, “foundation”) of the MT. (The words “to make” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.)
  5. Ezra 7:9 sn Apparently it took the caravan almost four months to make the 500 mile journey.
  6. Ezra 7:10 tn Heb “established his heart.”
  7. Ezra 7:10 tn Heb “to do and to teach.” The expression may be a hendiadys, in which case it would have the sense of “effectively teaching.”
  8. Ezra 7:11 tn Heb “this.”
  9. Ezra 7:11 tn Heb “the priest, the scribe.” So also in v. 21.
  10. Ezra 7:11 tn The words “Ezra was” are not in the Hebrew text but have been added in the translation for clarity.
  11. Ezra 7:12 sn Ezra 7:12-26 is written in Aramaic rather than Hebrew.
  12. Ezra 7:12 tn The verse ends with גְּמִיר וּכְעֶנֶת (gemir ukheʿenet) meaning “completed and now” or “perfect and now.” Some take the masculine form גְּמִיר (gemir) to apply to Ezra, as an expert scribe (Youngs, Holman, Darby). Many others take it as an abbreviated greeting “perfect (peace)” (KJV, NASB, ESV). Some simply render “Greetings” (NIV). The second term “and now” is understood either as beginning the letter’s text, i.e., that it belongs in the next verse (ESV), or as a form of “et cetera” meaning that the full introduction, whether of Ezra’s titles or of a lengthier list of greetings was deliberately omitted as extraneous to Ezra’s purposes here. The LXX interprets it as an introduction, “the message and answer are completed.”
  13. Ezra 7:13 tn Heb “from me is placed a decree.” So also in v. 21.
  14. Ezra 7:14 tn Aram “sent.”
  15. Ezra 7:14 tn Aram “in your hand.”
  16. Ezra 7:16 tn Aram “find.”
  17. Ezra 7:17 tn Aram “their meal offerings and their libations.”
  18. Ezra 7:18 tn Aram “brothers.”
  19. Ezra 7:19 tn Or “before.”
  20. Ezra 7:20 tn Aram “may fall to you to give.”
  21. Ezra 7:21 tn Aram “who are in.”
  22. Ezra 7:22 tc The translation reads מְשַׁח בַּתִּין (meshakh battin) rather than מְשַׁח בַּתִּין (battin meshakh) of the MT.
  23. Ezra 7:22 tn Aram “he did not write.”
  24. Ezra 7:23 tn The Aramaic word used here for “wrath” (קְצַף, qetsaf; cf. Heb קָצַף, qatsaf) is usually used in the Hebrew Bible for God’s anger as opposed to human anger (but contra Eccl 5:17 [MT 5:16]; Esth 1:18; 2 Kgs 3:27). The fact that this word is used in v. 23 may have theological significance, pointing to the possibility of divine judgment if the responsible parties should fail to make available these provisions for the temple.
  25. Ezra 7:24 tn Aram “we are making known to you.”
  26. Ezra 7:25 tn Aram “in your hand.”
  27. Ezra 7:25 tc For the MT reading שָׁפְטִין (shoftim, “judges”) the LXX uses the noun γραμματεῖς (grammateis, “scribes”).
  28. Ezra 7:26 tn On the meaning of this word see HALOT 1820-21 s.v. אָסְפַּרְנָא; E. Vogt, Lexicon linguae aramaicae, 14.
  29. Ezra 7:27 sn At this point the language of the book reverts from Aramaic (7:12-26) back to Hebrew.

Ezra Comes to Jerusalem

After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes(A) king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah,(B) the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,(C) the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok,(D) the son of Ahitub,(E) the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas,(F) the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— this Ezra(G) came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted(H) him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.(I) Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.(J)

Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.(K) 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching(L) its decrees and laws in Israel.

King Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra

11 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the Lord for Israel:

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings,(M)

To Ezra the priest, teacher of the Law of the God of heaven:

Greetings.

13 Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who volunteer to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. 14 You are sent by the king and his seven advisers(N) to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand. 15 Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given(O) to the God of Israel, whose dwelling(P) is in Jerusalem, 16 together with all the silver and gold(Q) you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem.(R) 17 With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs,(S) together with their grain offerings and drink offerings,(T) and sacrifice(U) them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.

18 You and your fellow Israelites may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. 19 Deliver(V) to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God. 20 And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you are responsible to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.(W)

21 Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you— 22 up to a hundred talents[a] of silver, a hundred cors[b] of wheat, a hundred baths[c] of wine, a hundred baths[d] of olive oil, and salt without limit. 23 Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons?(X) 24 You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty(Y) on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.(Z)

25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint(AA) magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach(AB) any who do not know them. 26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.[e](AC)

27 Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart(AD) to bring honor(AE) to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended his good favor(AF) to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me,(AG) I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 3 3/4 tons or about 3.4 metric tons
  2. Ezra 7:22 That is, probably about 18 tons or about 16 metric tons
  3. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 600 gallons or about 2,200 liters
  4. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 600 gallons or about 2,200 liters
  5. Ezra 7:26 The text of 7:12-26 is in Aramaic.